In a dimly lit room, Jared looked at a portrait of his marriage to Caroline that made him emotional. He wondered how his wife was doing, whether she had eaten or not. Or maybe she had made a good effort to escape from there. But such thoughts made Jared even more worried."I hope you're okay and not doing anything dangerous. Just wait for me there, because I'm going to rush you and kill that son of a bitch. I'm going to finish him off, leaving him no chance to take another step in this world. Nothing can hold me back, not you or anyone else."For the past few days, Jared had never been at peace. The image of Caroline crying disturbed and saddened him. He was deeply saddened by what had happened to his wife. Even with their various strategic plans to attack the mafia that made everything go wrong."Excuse me, boss."When Jared turned around, he found Donny standing in the doorway with a letter in his hand. "Is it something important, Donny?" asked Jared as he stepped closer to his seat
In a remote, dimly lit warehouse, the fierce battle between Jared and Max unfolded wildly and fiercely. The two men throw punch after punch, each move full of pent-up rage. Jared saw Max as an unbelievable threat, someone who only lived to destroy."Stop fighting, Jared! You'll never stop me!" Max growled, grinning with satisfaction as he managed to punch Jared hard in the stomach, sending him staggering backwards."You think I'm going to give up? After everything you did to Caroline and her family? You're too proud, Max," Jared retorted in a hateful tone. He advanced again, slamming Max in the jaw, sending the man staggering.However, Max just chuckled, as if the blow meant nothing to him. "You don't understand, Jared. I'm not doing this for money or power. It's more than that. It's about conquering.""Conquering what? The family that never bothered you?" Jared demanded, his expression fiery. "You're nothing more than a coward, Max. Attacking people who can't fight you—that's cowardi
"Caroline... enough." Aalya said finally, in a low voice.Caroline looked away briefly but did not stop her efforts. She just grunted and continued pulling the rope. "I can do it myself, Aalya. Don't interfere."Aalya leaned a little closer, though doubt was evident on her face. "You're making your hand worse. Don't you see?"Caroline just chuckled sarcastically. "What do you care, Aalya? Didn't you care all along? So why pretend to care now?"Aalya hardened her jaw, feeling like her heart was being stabbed. It was true; her relationship with Caroline had never been good for a long time. They fought too much and often disagreed. But this time, a different feeling arose in her. Seeing Caroline hurt, there was a sting that was hard to ignore."I... I'm not pretending," Aalya replied in a voice that was almost a whisper, as if admitting it was something that was hard for her. "I just didn't want to see you hurt like that."Caroline stopped her efforts for a moment, looking at Aalya with
"I just want her back," Jared whispered, more to himself than to Donny.Donny put his hand on Jared's shoulder, giving a little reinforcement. "We'll find her, Jared. Caroline is strong; she must be hanging out there, waiting for you to come. We just need to be more patient."Hearing those words, Jared felt a new sense of strength rise within him. Caroline was a strong person; it was true. Although his heart was filled with worry, he knew that Caroline wouldn't give up so easily. "You're right, Donny. We'll find her."**A few hours later, Jared and his team resumed their search. They combed other areas of the city, asking everyone who might have a clue, looking for the slightest trace that could help them find Caroline. However, the results remained nil.Every place he went, Jared felt worse and worse. The image of Caroline's face kept looming in his mind—her gentle gaze, her encouraging smile, and her comforting voice. Longing and worry mixed together, forming a gaping wound in his
Aalya's face paled at Caroline's words. "What do you mean?"Caroline took a deep breath, her voice full of pain. "Mom and Dad died because of you, Aalya. You and your bad habits, lies, debts, and all the trouble you caused—it all destroyed our family. You're not just a burden, Aalya. You are the reason they left."Aalya was transfixed, unable to say anything. Caroline's words hit her like a sledgehammer, shattering the fortress of hatred she had built up over the years. "No, that's not possible," she whispered, Aalya's voice weakening."Impossible?" Caroline scoffed. "You really are blind, aren't you? You always think that everyone is wrong and that the world is hostile to you, but you never look in the mirror. Every decision you make is just for yourself, without a thought for anyone else. You destroyed us, Aalya."Aalya looked down, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I didn't mean it like that, Caroline. I just... I just feel like they never loved me.""They loved you, Aalya," Caroli
Aalya looked at Caroline, her eyes starting to turn red. There was regret, but pride and anger still held her back. "You don't know how much it hurts, Caroline. Everyone always sees me as your shadow, never enough, never capable."Caroline shook her head firmly. "Maybe it's true, you feel uncared for. But this path you've chosen? Distressing them until they die? Is that the way to get the attention you want? I don't need recognition, Aalya. I don't need the attention you dream of. All I need is a complete family, and you've destroyed that."Caroline's tears began to fall, but she wiped them away quickly, not wanting to appear weak in front of Aalya. "I lost them too, Aalya, probably more than you did. But the difference is, I lost them because of someone I should have trusted... someone who should have been my sister. I don't just feel lost, Aalya. I feel betrayed by you."Caroline's words were sharp and cutting, leaving Aalya speechless. She knew, even though Caroline had never said
"We don't need anything from you, Max," Caroline said firmly, her voice cold. "If you think we'll submit just because you keep us here and feed us like prisoners, you're sadly mistaken."Max just shrugged, looking relaxed and unfazed by Caroline's stern demeanor. "You might be able to hold out for a while, Caroline, but remember, time is on my side."Aalya finally raised her head, looking at Max with an almost hollow yet hateful expression. "Why bother pretending to care, Max? You just want power and the satisfaction of controlling others."Max chuckled, his voice low and full of mockery. "Aalya, I don't care if you hate me or not. I just want to make sure you're under my control. Besides, isn't this better than your chaotic lives?"Caroline rolled her eyes angrily. "You don't know anything about our lives, Max. You're just a coward playing with other people's lives."Max looked at him sharply, as if offended, but quickly his sly smile returned to his face. "We'll see how long you can
The warehouse door opened roughly, and Max appeared with a face full of anger, clearly still not over the humiliation he had just received from Aalya. Caroline and Aalya were both shocked, but Max's gaze was immediately fixed on Aalya, full of ill will."You think I'll forget what you did earlier, Aalya?" Max approached them with heavy steps, while Aalya stiffened, seeing him approach without any good intentions.Aalya tried to back away, but the room was too narrow to dodge. Max reached out roughly, grabbed Aalya's arm, and pulled hard. Aalya tried to fight back, but the wound on her arm prevented her from moving much. Caroline, seeing Aalya in pain, immediately got up and tried to block Max bravely."Don't touch her!" Caroline shouted, her body standing between Max and Aalya. "You've tortured her enough. I won't let you hurt her anymore!"Max laughed sarcastically, ignoring Caroline's bravado. "That's touching, Caroline. You really are too good for someone like her." He leaned close
"Yes! We'll leave as soon as possible. I'm really looking forward to spending time with you on the beach and enjoying all the beauty of Bali," Caroline said, feeling equally happy."Me too! Ever since we got here, I've missed you so much. It feels like something is missing without you," Aalya replied, her tone full of emotion."And we can mend our broken relationship," Caroline continued, recalling all the tensions they had experienced. "I want us to turn over a new leaf.""That's right! We'll talk about everything and fix what can be fixed. I'm so excited!" Aalya replied, her voice full of excitement. "When do we leave?""We leave tomorrow morning! Jared has organized everything. We'll fly out early in the morning and be in Bali by noon," Caroline explained, feeling a little less anxious."Wow, that's fast! I'll prepare everything that needs to be brought. What should I prepare?" asked Aalya, eager to welcome her sister."Bring all the beach clothes you have! We'll have fun in the se
After arriving at the car, Jared started the engine and drove the car towards home. On the way, he envisioned the evening he had planned. Caroline must have prepared something special. When he arrived home, Jared opened the door and was greeted with silence. "Caroline?" he shouted, hoping to find his wife in the living room. "Over here, baby!" came Caroline's voice from the kitchen. Jared rushed towards the voice, and when he entered, he saw Caroline standing in the kitchen, wearing an apron, while stirring something in a pot. She smiled when she saw her husband. "You're finally home! I've been waiting," Caroline said, stepping closer. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Caro. It's been a busy day," Jared said, leaning his back against the table. Caroline looked at him understandingly, but there was a hint of longing in her eyes. "I know, but I missed you so much. Dinner is ready; let's eat," she said, trying to cover her sadness with a smile. They sat down at the dining table, and wh
Jared sighed, sensing the sadness in Caroline's heart. He understood how important the relationship between the sisters was. "I know, Carol. But we'll see each other again soon. They're only gone for a week," he said, trying to comfort."And you know how it is. Everyone around me is having fun while I'm here," Caroline said in a tone full of unfulfilled expectations."Don't worry, I have a plan," Jared said, trying to distract Caroline. "I'm taking you to a fancy restaurant tonight. We can enjoy some uninterrupted alone time.""A fancy restaurant?" Caroline looked over, a little surprised. "You had it planned?""Yes. It's time for us to indulge ourselves. Don't think about Aalya now; let yourself have fun," Jared replied with a confident smile."Okay." Caroline nodded slowly, though her heart was still heavy. She knew Jared was trying to make her happy, and she appreciated every effort he made.After a few minutes of driving, their car finally arrived in front of a fancy restaurant wi
Aalya was annoyed and dismayed by Brian's nosy attitude. "Do you want me to walk naked on the beach? I don't want to be a crowd pleaser!" she replied, frowning.Brian stifled a laugh, further amused by Aalya's reaction. "Ah, but only I can look at you! Only I can look at you that way," he said as he stepped closer.Aalya felt her cheeks heat up at Brian's words. "Stop making this up! This isn't about that!" she exclaimed, trying to push Brian's body out of the way."Well, I just want to see you glowing on the beach," Brian said, still hugging Aalya. "Imagine how beautiful you'll look in these clothes in the sun!"Aalya tried to push Brian further, but she couldn't help but laugh. "You're so naughty, Brian! This is no time for jokes," she said, shaking her head, but couldn't avoid the smile on her face."So, why not be a little more daring? We're in Bali, baby!" Brian replied in a teasing tone, continuing to put his arm around her."Well, maybe I can add a more revealing shirt or two,"
Jared looked at Caroline and Aalya with pride. "I'm glad to see you two getting along. This is what I expected from the beginning," he said. "And if we all go to Bali, we'll make wonderful new memories."Caroline nodded in agreement. "Yes, it's time we focus on happiness and the future. No more jealousy or hatred. We are a family now, and we need to support each other."Brian, who had started to feel more comfortable in this family, added, "And I promise to take good care of Aalya while we are in Bali. We'll travel around, explore the island, and make beautiful memories."Aalya looked at Brian with sparkling eyes. "I am so lucky to have you by my side. This is a new beginning for all of us.""Let's make this moment special. We can explore the beach, try the local food, and maybe bike around the island," Caroline said, her spirits rising."And don't forget the surf! We have to learn to surf!" Aalya adds, eager to imagine the adventures they will have.They all laughed together, sharing
It was a sunny day in Perth. Inside the Madison family mansion, Caroline was preparing dinner in the kitchen. She sang her favorite song while stirring the pasta, a smile never leaving her face. Aalya, who was now closer to Caroline, helped by chopping vegetables."Ouch, Aalya, don't cut them too big! It'll be hard to eat," Caroline said with a laugh."I know, I know! Is it small enough?" replied Aalya in a joking tone, showing the cut vegetables that didn't quite meet Caroline's criteria."Yes, yes, good. I just remembered we have to prepare dessert. Do you want to make brownies or chocolate cake?" Caroline asked, getting excited."Brownies! I love brownies! Let's make them!" Aalya replied cheerfully. Their voices filled the kitchen, creating a warm atmosphere in the house.Meanwhile, in the living room, Jared was talking to Brian. Jared looked very serious, while Brian looked a little worried."Brian, I've been thinking about our relationship. Ever since you came back to Aalya, thin
"I can't believe Brian finally did it," Caroline murmured with a smile. Memories of when Brian and Aalya first met flashed through her mind. Although Aalya didn't believe in their relationship at first, Brian patiently proved how sincere and loyal he was. Caroline felt proud to see her brother finally find his true love.Caroline turned on her cell phone and decided to call Aalya. She knew how happy her sister was when she accepted Brian's proposal. After a few ringtones, Aalya answered in a cheerful voice."Caroline! How are you?" Aalya sounded very excited, her voice full of joy that flowed into every word."I'm fine, sis. I just heard from Brian, and I'm so happy for you!" Caroline couldn't hide the smile on her face.Aalya chuckled. "Oh, thank you! This is a very special moment for me. Brian really moved me. He proposed to me in the park where we used to spend time together.""Wow, that's so romantic! I know Brian must have planned it well. You deserve that happiness, sis," Caroli
Caroline's eyes lit up. She knew that Aalya's statement was not just empty words. She saw the commitment on Aalya's face, and it made her feel optimistic. "I want us to be able to repair our relationship, Aalya. We can start from here. We can support and help each other."Aalya smiled, feeling new hope in their relationship. "Thank you, Caroline. I promise I will try hard to be a better sister. I won't let jealousy get the better of me anymore. I will support you, no matter what."Days passed, and Aalya began to show a marked change in attitude. She spent more time with Caroline, helping her sister in the recovery process. Aalya learned to listen to and appreciate Caroline's feelings, which she had previously ignored. They talked more openly, shared stories, and planned for a better future.Aalya also started looking for ways to improve herself. She went to support groups, trying to work through the emotional issues that had plagued her life. She learned to love herself and let go of
After a dark period that almost took Caroline's life, she is now lying in a comfortable hospital bed, surrounded by modern medical equipment and the pungent smell of antiseptics. However, within the room, there is one thing that gives her peace of mind: the presence of Jared beside her.Jared sat in a chair next to the bed, his eyes never leaving Caroline's face. He looked tired, but his passion for caring for his wife kept him strong. Every day, Jared arrived early, bringing fresh flowers and a warm smile, despite the weight on his shoulders."How are you feeling today, dear?" asked Jared gently, stroking Caroline's bandaged hand.Caroline smiled faintly, trying to hold back the pain that was still in her chest. "I feel better, but I'm still tired," she replied, her voice soft. "You're always here, Jared. Thank you."Jared nodded, his eyes full of love. "I'm not going anywhere. You are everything to me, Caroline. I will always be here for you," he said firmly. The pain Caroline was e